Proposed 250' Arch
Global Landmarks (Comparative)
Excavation Layback Trench
Reinforced Pier Footings
Scale: 1:400 (Grid 25' / 7.6m)
Announced 2-Week Window Civil Logistics
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced on Thursday that site excavation will commence over the next two weeks. Civil engineering sequence required to safely execute a 250-foot monumental arch foundation:
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Phase 1: Mobilization & Geotechnical Borings (Days 1–5)Drill rigs execute 80-ft core borings across pier footprints to verify bedrock depth and water table pressure before heavy yellow iron mobilization.
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Phase 2: Clearing & Utility Interceptor Trenches (Days 6–10)Securing site perimeter, relocating sub-surface electrical/storm lines, and grading staging pads for dual 400-ton crawler cranes.
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Phase 3: Mass Earthwork & Shoring (Days 11–24)Excavating 28,650 cu yd across twin foundation pits. Requires ~160 tri-axle truck round-trips daily to dump haul sites without regional traffic gridlock.
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Phase 4: Mud Mat & Caisson/Mat Footings (Days 25–45)Pouring 4-inch unreinforced blinding mud mat, installing high-strength rebar cage grid, and continuous concrete mass pour.
Monumental Scale Benchmark
| Monument | Location | Height (ft) | Relative to 250' |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proposed Triumphal Arch | Washington DC (Proposed) | 250 ft | 100.0% (Baseline) |
| Arc de Triomphe | Paris, France | 164 ft | 65.6% (-86 ft) |
| Washington Monument | Washington DC | 555 ft | 222.0% (+305 ft) |
| Gateway Arch | St. Louis, MO | 630 ft | 252.0% (+380 ft) |
| Marble Arch | London, UK | 45 ft | 18.0% (-205 ft) |
*Paris Arc de Triomphe stood as the world's tallest triumphal arch from 1836 to 1982 until the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang (197 ft). The proposed 250-foot arch would exceed both.